Fremont Standoff Ends in Suicide

A distraught man who held Fremont police at bay for 19 hours in his ex-girlfriend's apartment was found dead early yesterday from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, authorities said.

Mario Patrone, 30, of Fremont apparently shot himself moments after SWAT teams fired tear gas into the apartment on Central Avenue at 4:26 a.m., said police Detective Robert Nelson.

About 8 a.m. Monday, Patrone forced his way into his ex- girlfriend's apartment with a .32-caliber handgun, police said. He sexually assaulted the woman -- who had a restraining order against him -- and threatened to shoot her because she broke up with him, Nelson said.

The woman escaped without further injury, but Patrone fired two rounds at officers and refused to surrender, police said. He became increasingly agitated throughout the day, and after negotiations with Patrone failed, officers decided to force him out of the apartment.